Xanadu 2008, Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Location:

This family-owned resort is located approximately 10 km from the Kanchanaburi city centre and approximately 50 km from the Erawan National Park. The resort is located in a tranquil garden on the river Kwai. It's beneficial to have your own transportation in this area; however, if you don't, you can easily arrange for transportation or taxi service. We had a difficult time finding the resort but with the help of the owners Dennis and Nee who came to find us, we eventually managed. We didn't realize that there are several army bases in this area so when we followed the directions, we made the left turn after the 3rd army base from Kanchanaburi, instead of the first one. We had no idea we passed 2 army bases before getting to the 3rd one. If you are driving to the resort and don't know what a Thai army base looks like, it's very easy to make the same mistake. Nevertheless, with our own transportation we really enjoyed the location of the resort and its beautifully surrounding area.

Room Comfort:

At the time of our visit, the resort was less than 1-year old, so the air-conditioned bungalows were new and in great condition. The bungalows are spacious and very well built. The bungalow was thoughtfully designed to ensure insects don't get in. There are no mosquito nets in the room, but they don't seem to be needed as there doesn't seem to be an issue with mosquitoes in the bungalows. The room decor isn't the traditional Thai style you may see in most places around Thailand and didn't appeal to our senses but it really didn't bother us as everything else about this resort was perfect. Since the resort is still getting established, we can only imagine the decorations will improve. At the time of our visit, little things like night tables were still not there, but we are sure will be added in the future. The bed was hard but the pillows and comforter were very soft and comfortable. There was a TV in the room, but no cable/satellite at the time of our stay. There was a DVD player in the room and Dennis has a wide selection of DVDs you can borrow. The bathroom was also very spacious. Potpourri was placed in the bathroom to gave it more of a homey feel. No toiletries were included but a bar of soap was provided.

Cleanliness:

The bungalow was very clean. Bed sheets, towels, floors and bathroom were all very clean. The towels had a few small stains on them, but they were very soft and clean. The gardens at the resort were beautifully maintained. The large swimming pool and the restaurant were also very clean and well maintained. It's very apparent that the owners take great pride and care into running this resort.

Service:

The service was fantastic. This is a resort where we were personally welcomed by the owners and received a warm and friendly personal touch during our entire stay. The owners Dennis and Nee are great people. They have a lot of information about the surrounding area and did their best to help us plan our time while in the area. They also ensured that we had an enjoyable stay. They put a lot of pride, attention and care into running this resort and ensuring their guests are happy. As mentioned above, we got lost trying to find the resort and once we contacted Dennis, they quickly set out to find us and bring us to the resort. We really enjoyed the company of Dennis and Nee and very much appreciated the fantastic service they provided. Our stay here was great and we would have loved to stay longer!

Food:

The food was delicious and very reasonably priced. Nee is a fantastic cook. We enjoyed a delicious Thai meal for dinner and a western breakfast. Both were enjoyable and filling. There are numerous fruit trees on the property, so don't be shy to ask what fruit is in season and if you can have a taste. We enjoyed some delicious fresh papaya during our stay.

Overall Value:

We highly recommend this resort. The service and resort exceeded our expectations. The price was fantastic, the accommodation comfortable and the service was great. We truly felt welcomed by friends rather than by strangers. We enjoyed our stay and would go back again as it's going to be hard to find a better value of accommodations in this area.

Other Notes:

The resort has a beautiful little patio by the river to enjoy a meal or a drink. Erawan Falls is a beautiful attraction in the area. It is a 7-level waterfall with pools that you can swim in. It is approximately a 50-km drive from the resort, but well worth it. Dennis and Nee can also arrange for tours/transportation to the park.

Our Rating: 4.5/5   Year Reviewed: 2010 

For the best possible prices of accommodations in this area, visit Expedia.ca. You can also visit the hotel's website at: www.xanaduresort2008.com

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